Program Overview

Develop your natural talent for cooking in as little as four months with the Penn Foster Career School Caterer Program. The program will teach you how to prepare and serve exquisite meals to family, friends, and customers. Did you know that the average salary for Chefs and Head Cooks is $42,480?¹ With the Penn Foster Career School Caterer Program, you can learn at home and at a pace that's right for you.

The Caterer Program will cover the professional skills of catering and gourmet cooking, as well as how to start a catering business of your own. You will discover how to prepare everything from appetizers to a ten-course meal. And, you'll get hands-on practice with the cooking labs and detailed video tutorials included in your program.

In this cooking lab, you'll caramelize onions to create a caramelized onion frittata, and present your dish with one of the beautiful presentation options in this supplement. You'll slice onions, determine if eggs are fresh, sun dry tomatoes, and learn the difference between an omelet, a quiche, and a frittata.

In this cooking lab, prepare an entire meal of red cabbage and spinach salad, salmon in parchment with shrimp and peppers, and chartreuse melon with berries. Each piece of the meal will come out on time and delicious!

Computer Specifications
You will need high-speed internet access to begin your program. You will need access to a Microsoft® Windows® based computer running Windows XP® or later or an Apple® Mac® computer running OS X® or later, and an email account to complete your program with Penn Foster.

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.
Microsoft, Windows, and Windows XP are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.
Apple, Mac, and OS X are trademarks of Apple, Inc registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.

Caterers prepare and serve food and beverages for events and banquets in restaurants, hospitals or nursing homes, and even on cruise ships. Here are a few qualities that effective caterers have in common:

Communicative: You like to take charge of projects and organize tasks for many people.

Organized: Keep food and cooking ingredients in the right places.

Flexible: Catering businesses often have irregular hours.

Healthy: You are conscious of healthy eating and living habits for you and your loved ones.

Detail oriented: It’s important to have a sharp eye and check things twice.

I want to encourage anyone wishing to do a program with Penn Foster. You will get assistance and gain tremendous benefit from Penn Foster.

- Claudia W., Caterer graduate

I just recently graduated, and this program gave me the courage to start my own business. I would definitely recommend Penn Foster to others. Their support was tremendous. Thank you all for the encouragement... Penn Foster rocks!!!

- Dahlia R., Caterer graduate

Your program includes:

Customized payment plans with 0% interest

Books and learning aids, including video tutorials and The Professional Chef textbook

Additional resources such as our online library and career guidance from Career Cruising

Do you need previous experience in catering to enroll in Penn Foster Career School’s Caterer Career Diploma Program?

No, you do not need previous experience to enroll in the Caterer Program. This program is designed to teach you the professional skills of catering and gourmet cooking, including using proper kitchen techniques and preparations.

¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, "Occupational Outlook Handbook," 2014-15 Edition, Chefs and Head Cooks, on the Internet here. Statements found in the United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook are not a guarantee of any post-graduation salary, in part because the data used to create the Occupational Outlook Handbook includes workers from differing educational backgrounds, levels of experience, and geographic areas of the country.